2. 2023
  3. March

An excellent article on why the takeover of Vet Medicine matters.

Mainly it has to do with the fact that it's LEGAL for non-veterinarians to specify things about the professional care and decisions made on behalf of the patient.
The article is in https://drjohnson.com
https://drjohnson.com/the-takeover-of-veterinary-practices-by-non-veterinary-owners-who-are-motivated-chiefly-or-solely-by-profit/

Consolidation nation: Why veterinarians who hate corporate ownership end up selling out
January 31, 2018
Christopher J. Allen, DVM, JD

Excerpts:
“When expensive diagnostics and therapies nobody could pay for out of pocket came along, the insurance juggernaut was launched. “

”
…private medical practice is disappearing, much like the bison in the late 19th century. For better or worse, human medicine has emerged as corporate, notwithstanding that any given hospital chain might be organized under state law as “not for profit.”

”
In the veterinary world, some would argue that a matching scenario is unfolding for clinicians who treat animals. Diagnostic equipment is too costly for individuals and small partnerships; pet insurance is proliferating, along with its inherent red tape.  ”

”
While the government used to stand fast against the corporate ownership of “learned professions,” today, sure enough, I can buy my pills and my glasses at Walmart. How could this happen? ”

”
Consider Justice Tilzer of the New York State Supreme Court……..seminal litigation like the People v. Sterling Optical case opened the door for virtually every licensed profession to be “operated” by big business. Wall Street set about feasting on the dentists' lunch, then the undertakers'-and now there's rapidly developing interest in ours. ”

”
Corporations don't have to make a profit at the start. With their extensive financial resources and backing, consolidators have an advantage over independent veterinarians in negotiating a clinic purchase. If a practice's location, demographics, staffing and culture are solid and can be significantly improved under new management, a roll-up can offer an outsized price to a seller.  ”

”
Consolidators don't have to compete with online pharmacies. They can purchase product at the same price as online pharmacies due to their size and scale.  ”

”
Practice buyers proliferated and clinic prices rose. The luxury of choosing to buy a practice “at a convenient time in life” devolved into a scramble to locate a hospital-any hospital-that hasn't already sold or whose price has not already been hopelessly bid up. ”

”
Bottom line, if a DVM wants to be an owner now, she'd better be alert when opportunity knocks, savvy when negotiating price and terms, and disciplined enough to compete with the big dogs when she finds herself the owner of a veterinary business. ”

Dr. Christopher J. Allen is president of the Associates in Veterinary Law PC, which provides legal and consulting services exclusively to veterinarians. He can be reached via email at info@veterinarylaw.com.

How to tell when you are using a franchise veterinarian

A dog or cat with a fracture in a leg will not use that leg. Even if you pick up the other leg, it will roll down onto the fractured leg. They will bear no weight on a limb fracture.

But that does not mean if the dog will not bear weight on the leg, that it is fractured.  This is too much for some veterinarians to keep in mind. So they need x-rays. Even as the pet is walking around. And they will find nothing because cartilage and tendon lesions do not show up on x-rays but that is never explained as the diagnostic is suggested and done. 

A cat with a fever of any significance will not eat. But that does not mean a cat without a fever will eat. And, it does not mean that a cat that is not eating has a fever.

This is too much for some veterinarians to keep in mind. So they need bloodwork. They also need the % commission on that blood work.

I haven’t seen this in print anywhere in an employees, manual, but there is a “breadcrumbs, testing algorithm“ at work in certain veterinary practices, especially at the franchise or corporate level. And that is the “stock answer“ to any question being asked:

“What’s wrong with my pet?”

We should be able to answer that question with the results of a few tests.

The test results indicate a specific problem. What’s the prognosis?

We should be able to tell with the results of a few more tests.

What are the chances of my pet survival?

We should be able to tell with the results of the next few tests.

OK so we know it’s UN-treatable is there anything that would buy time?

We should be able to tell with the results of a few more tests.

Wow, this looks really hopeless, should I put my pet to sleep?

We should be able to tell with the results of the next battery of tests. 

If you get that answer over and over again from the doctor at the franchise, please realize you are feeding a commissions based machine. 

Lexi’s Amazing Weightloss Journey

Good Morning Dr. Johnson,

I have attached a few pictures of Lexi's weight loss progress over the past 3 years, as I was not sure which ones you might prefer.  Feel free to crop or edit the pictures if needed.
I adopted Lexi in February of 2020, right before the pandemic became serious and lockdown started.  She was listed at a shelter as a 35 lb poodle mix about 7-8 years old under the name Strawberry Shortcake.  Newly named Lexi came home and the next day went to Johnson Veterinary for an initial checkup.  She was overweight, has allergies, but was overall very happy and healthy.  A diet of 1/3 cup dry food twice a day with little treats was implemented along with daily exercise to get her on the track to a better weight.  A year later (still stuck in the pandemic), Lexi's diet changed to 1/4 cup twice a day, but treats could be more plentiful as she was in training to become a Therapy Dog and needed the extra encouragement (she is extremely motivated by food) to complete training.  At this point, she was about 25-27 lbs.  We are now on year 3, Lexi is 20 lbs, healthy, and still on the same diet with healthy treats (such as frozen green beans, frozen broccoli, strawberries, and healthier dog treats).  She is rocking a cotton candy look and still loving food, though in the right quantities.
Feel free to edit the story (I might not be exact on the weight checkups but I tried to get close).  Let me know of/when you post.
Thank you and have a nice day.
Sincerely,
Jennifer 

Why not use formalin in cold water?

Coldwater formalin

There’s no decent reason. 100 years ago some asshole wrote that formalin will settle to the bottom in ice cold water.

Which is actually true, it will stratify if you leave it in a vial under test circumstances. But the concept is that it would create hot spots on the bottom of the pond, except that there’s usually at least some circulation to keep that *theoretical* event from happening. I wouldn’t spend a moment worrying about it. 

HOWEVER

If you are applying the formalin into water, that is below 40, and it clouds as soon as it hits the water, it’s not going to work, because it is forming paraformaldehyde, which, in the big scheme of things is no big deal, except that the cold water has deactivated that particular formalin recipe.

Also, paraformaldehyde is toxic to fish. Twice as toxic as regular formalin but it’s not going to kill a whole Pond. 

Most commercial preparations the formalin has been buffered to prevent that.  

For what it’s worth, because of high oxygen tensions not available in summer: I love formalin in cool water.  

Why not use your first name, especially if you practice at Kissy vet.

Dear Dr. Johnson,

Have you ever thought about referring to yourself as Dr. Erik? Using just your first name? Perhaps it would be less intimidating to customers with white coat syndrome.

Answer:

It crosses my mind very briefly. But the problem with it is that it’s “cutesy” . It’s like naming your clinic “Dancing Cats With Balloons”. Or “Kissy Vet”. It lacks medical validity. And you might say, “wow that’s going a little far“ but no. You can’t search out a veterinarians credentials or license by their first name. So if I called myself, “Dr. Chad”, it would really be hard for a conscientious, consumer to “check me out“ before you brought your beloved pet to me.

Now, more than ever, with the advent of extremely relaxed licensing, the necessary importation of veterinarians, who were educated in Bangladesh, and  Bulgaria, (if at all), and veterinarians running shot clinics in disgrace on card tables at pet stores, putting needle to skin without a previous medical history to refer to, in practical anonymity. Calling yourself, Dr. Brian, is really just diversion. 

In the final analysis, I think if I am not soothing enough in my demeanor and mannerisms, to take the edge off a name like Erik Johnson, (I don’t wear a white coat by the way) I might need to change work. Lol. It’s a very good question. Thank you for asking. And if you want to call me, Dr. Erik, that’s fine. I’ve been called worse! Lol. 

You can practically call me whatever you want, I don’t have the ego to insist on “doctor” in front of my name, but I will continue to use my full name everywhere you see it in print ads or interviews, because I am proud of the work it took to get where I am, I’m proud of my degree and I’m proud of my licensing. 

Lyme’s Disease in Cats: Can Felines Contract Lyme’s Disease?

Lyme disease is probably not a concern for cat owners. Although the bacteria that cause
Lyme disease is capable of infecting cats, the disease has never been seen in a cat outside
of a laboratory setting. However, because Lyme is potentially quite severe and is common
among humans and dogs, it is wise to know how the disease is transmitted and what the
signs of infection are in your pets.

pdf icon Lyme-Disease-In-Cats.pdf

Fish and Pet Health Information Websites with Original Pet Help Content